Laminating apparatus and method of driving same

Abstract

The invention relates to a laminating apparatus and a method of driving the same. The laminating apparatus includes: an upper chamber accommodating a window; a lower chamber accommodating at least one display panel; at least one shaft body penetrating the lower chamber; at least one alignment member aligning the at least one display panel and the window; and at least one sub-chamber disposed between the lower chamber and the at least one alignment member. At least one bellows surrounding a portion of the at least one shaft body may be disposed in the at least one sub-chamber.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0088675 filed on July 7, 2023 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a laminating device and a driving method of the laminating device. Background Art

[0004] As information technology develops, the importance of display devices as a connection medium between users and information increases. Therefore, display devices such as liquid crystal display devices and organic light emitting display devices are increasingly used.

[0005] The display device may include a window and a display panel. The window may be provided to protect the display panel, and the window and the display panel may be attached to each other. The laminating device may be used to laminate the window and the display panel.

[0006] It will be understood that this background technology section is intended, in part, to provide a useful background for understanding the present technology. However, this background technology section may also include ideas, concepts or realizations that were not known or understood as a part by a person skilled in the relevant art before the corresponding effective filing date of the subject matter disclosed herein. Summary of the invention

[0007] The embodiment provides a laminating device and a driving method of the laminating device which can easily make the center of an alignment unit of the laminating device correspond to the center of various types of display panels.

[0008] Embodiments also provide a laminating apparatus and a driving method of the laminating apparatus which can prevent damage of a bellows in a process of making a center of an alignment unit and a center of a display panel correspond to each other.

[0009] The technical objectives to be achieved by the present disclosure are not limited to the technical objectives described herein, and other technical objectives not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the present disclosure.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a laminating device may include: an upper chamber for accommodating a window; a lower chamber for accommodating at least one display panel; at least one shaft penetrating the lower chamber; at least one alignment component for aligning at least one display panel and the window; and at least one subchamber disposed between the lower chamber and the at least one alignment component, wherein at least one bellows surrounding a portion of at least one shaft is disposed in the at least one subchamber.

[0011] The first base plate and the first electrostatic chuck may be disposed in the upper chamber. The first electrostatic chuck may be disposed on the first base plate and fix the window.

[0012] At least one second base plate and at least one second electrostatic chuck may be disposed in the lower chamber. At least one second base plate may be connected to at least one shaft. At least one second electrostatic chuck may be disposed on at least one second base plate and fix at least one display panel.

[0013] The lower chamber may include at least one opening hole corresponding to the at least one display panel, and at least one shaft body may be disposed in the at least one opening hole.

[0014] At least one sub-chamber may include: a sub-plate including a fixing hole for fixing at least one shaft body; a cylinder for moving at least one sub-chamber up / down; a linear motion guide (or LM guide) for guiding the up / down movement of at least one sub-chamber; and a floating joint for compensating for the parallelism between the axial center of the cylinder and the up / down movement of the LM guide.

[0015] The upper chamber and the lower chamber can be combined together to form an inner space. At least one bellows can maintain the inner space in a vacuum state.

[0016] At least one bellows may be in contact with the daughterboard.

[0017] The laminating apparatus may further include: at least one singal-axis robot disposed at the bottom of the at least one alignment member, the at least one singal-axis robot moving the at least one alignment member so that a center of the at least one alignment member and a center of the at least one display panel correspond to each other.

[0018] At least one subchamber may be moved downwardly before at least one single-axis robot moves at least one alignment component.

[0019] At least one subchamber may be moved upward after at least one single-axis robot moves at least one alignment component.

[0020] The number of the at least one display panel may be in the range of one to three.

[0021] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for driving a laminating device may include: lowering at least one subchamber, wherein the at least one subchamber is arranged between a lower chamber accommodating at least one display panel and at least one alignment component; by moving at least one alignment component, a center of the at least one alignment component and a center of the at least one display panel correspond to each other; and lifting at least one subchamber, wherein at least one bellows surrounding a portion of at least one axis body is arranged in the at least one subchamber.

[0022] At least one sub-chamber may include: a sub-plate, including a fixing hole for fixing at least one shaft body; a cylinder, which enables at least one sub-chamber to move up / down; a linear motion guide (or LM guide), which guides the up and down movement of at least one sub-chamber; and a floating joint, which compensates for the parallelism between the axial center of the cylinder and the up and down movement of the LM guide.

[0023] At least one bellows may be in contact with the daughterboard.

[0024] The method may further include: combining an upper chamber and a lower chamber accommodating the window together; maintaining an inner space formed by combining the upper chamber and the lower chamber together in a vacuum state; and adhering the window and the at least one display panel to each other.

[0025] The number of the at least one display panel may be in the range of one to three.

[0026] The first base plate and the first electrostatic chuck may be disposed in the upper chamber, and the first electrostatic chuck may be disposed on the first base plate and fix the window.

[0027] At least one second base plate and at least one second electrostatic chuck may be disposed in the lower chamber, the at least one second base plate may be connected to the at least one shaft, and the at least one second electrostatic chuck may be disposed on the at least one second base plate and fix the at least one display panel.

[0028] The method may further include moving the at least one subchamber downwardly prior to moving the at least one alignment component by the at least one single-axis robot.

[0029] The method may further include moving the at least one subchamber upward after moving the at least one alignment component by the at least one single-axis robot. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The above and other features of the present disclosure will become more apparent by further describing the embodiments of the present disclosure in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0031] Figures 1 to 6 are schematic diagrams showing various types of display devices.

[0032] Figure 7 and Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a laminating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a laminating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Fig.10 is a schematic diagram showing a sub-chamber according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figures 11 to 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a driving method of a laminating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various embodiments are shown. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be more thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0037] In describing the drawings, like reference numerals have been used for like elements. In the drawings, the dimensions of the structures are exaggerated than actual size in order to clearly illustrate the present disclosure.

[0038] It will be understood that although the terms "first", "second", etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the first element discussed below may be referred to as the second element. Similarly, the second element may also be referred to as the first element.

[0039] The terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing the embodiments, and are not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly states otherwise, as used herein, "one", "one (kind / person)", "the (said)" and "at least one (kind / person)" do not represent a limitation on quantity, and are intended to include both the singular and the plural. For example, unless the context clearly states otherwise, "an element" has the same meaning as "at least one element". "At least one (kind / person)" will not be understood as limiting "one" or "one (kind / person)". The terms "and" and "or" mean "and / or". As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any combination and all combinations of one or more related listed items.

[0040] It will also be understood that the terms “comprises, comprising, includes and / or including,” “has, have and / or having” and variations thereof when used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof.

[0041] When an element is referred to as being "on," "connected to," or "coupled to" another element, the element may be directly on, directly connected to, or directly coupled to the other element, or there may be intervening elements or layers. However, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly connected to," or "directly coupled to" another element, there are no intervening elements or layers. For this purpose, the term "connected" may refer to a physical connection, an electrical connection, and / or a fluid connection with or without intervening elements.

[0042] In addition, relative terms such as "lower" or "bottom" and "upper" or "top" may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element to another element as shown in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to cover different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the accompanying drawings. For example, if the device is turned over in one of the multiple drawings, the elements described as being on the "lower" side of the other elements will be oriented on the "upper" side of the other elements. Therefore, depending on the specific orientation of the drawings, the term "lower" can cover both "lower" and "upper" orientations. Similarly, if the device is turned over in one of the multiple drawings, the elements described as being "under" or "below" other elements will be oriented as "above" other elements. Therefore, the terms "under..." or "below..." can include both upper and lower orientations.

[0043] Unless otherwise defined or implied herein, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. It will also be understood that terms (such as those defined in general dictionaries) should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly so defined herein.

[0044] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0045] Figures 1 to 6 2 are schematic diagrams showing various types of display devices DD.

[0046] The display device DD may be a device that is activated according to an electrical signal and displays an image. For example, the display device DD may be used as a display screen of portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, smart phones, tablet personal computers (PCs), mobile communication terminals, electronic notebooks, electronic books, portable multimedia players (PMPs), navigation systems, and ultra-mobile PCs. The display device DD may be used as a display screen of various products such as televisions, notebook computers, monitors, billboards, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. In addition, the display device DD may be used as a display screen of a car display.

[0047] The display device DD may have various shapes on a plane, such as a rectangular shape, a circular shape, and other polygonal shapes.

[0048] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the display device DD according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a display area AA and a non-display area NAA surrounding the display area AA. The display area AA may be an area in which an image is displayed. A plurality of pixels for displaying an image may be provided in the display area AA. The non-display area NAA may be an area in which an image is not displayed. Various drivers and various lines for driving a plurality of pixels may be provided in the non-display area NAA. The non-display area NAA may be a peripheral edge area other than the display area AA, and may be referred to as a border area.

[0049] The display device DD according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a window WD and a display panel DP. The window WD may be disposed on the front surface of the display panel DP to protect the display panel DP. An image output from the display panel DP may be recognized by a user while being transmitted through the window WD. The window WD may form the appearance of the display device DD. The window WD may be attached to the display panel DP by an adhesive layer. For example, the adhesive layer may include an adhesive member, such as an optically transparent adhesive member or a pressure-sensitive adhesive member.

[0050] The display panel DP may display an image on the front surface of the display panel DP. The display panel may be a light-emitting display panel. For example, the display panel DP may be an organic light-emitting display panel, a quantum dot light-emitting display panel, a micro light-emitting diode (LED) display panel, or a nano LED display panel.

[0051] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the display device DD may include two display areas AA1 and AA2 and a non-display area NAA surrounding the display areas AA1 and AA2. The same image or different images may be displayed in the display areas AA1 and AA2. To this end, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the display device DD may include a window WD and two display panels DP1 and DP2. Each of the display panels DP1 and DP2 may be attached to the window WD by an adhesive layer. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The display areas AA1 and AA2 and the display panels DP1 and DP2 shown in FIG. 2 are merely exemplary, and sizes and shapes of the display areas AA1 and AA2 and the display panels DP1 and DP2 may be variously modified according to products.

[0052] refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6, the display device DD according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include three display areas AA1, AA2, and AA3 and a non-display area NAA surrounding the display areas AA1, AA2, and AA3. The same image or different images may be displayed in the display areas AA1, AA2, and AA3. To this end, the display device DD according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a window WD and three display panels DP1, DP2, and DP3. Each of the display panels DP1, DP2, and DP3 may be attached to the window WD by an adhesive layer. Figure 5 and Figure 6 The display areas AA1, AA2, and AA3 and the display panels DP1, DP2, and DP3 shown in FIG. 1 are merely examples, and sizes and shapes of the display areas AA1, AA2, and AA3 and the display panels DP1, DP2, and DP3 may be variously modified according to products.

[0053] Figure 7 and Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing a laminating device LD according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 7 and Figure 8 In FIG. 1 , a laminating device LD for adhering two display panels DP1 / DP2 or two display panels DP3 / DP4 to a window WD is shown.

[0054] refer to Figure 7 , the laminating device LD according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include an upper chamber UC, a lower chamber BC, a substrate plate BP, an electrostatic chuck ESC, at least one shaft body SF, at least one bellows BL, an alignment unit (alignment component or aligner) AU and a single-axis robot SAR. The substrate plate BP may include a first substrate plate BP1 and at least one second substrate plate BP2. The electrostatic chuck ESC may include a first electrostatic chuck ESC1 and at least one second electrostatic chuck ESC2. The alignment unit AU may include a first alignment unit AU1 and a second alignment unit AU2. The single-axis robot SAR may include a first single-axis robot SAR1 and a second single-axis robot SAR2.

[0055] The upper chamber UC may be a component for accommodating the window WD. To this end, the first base plate BP1 and the first electrostatic chuck ESC1 may be disposed in the upper chamber UC. The first base plate BP1 may be a component for supporting the first electrostatic chuck ESC1 which may be disposed on the first base plate BP1 to fix the window WD. The first electrostatic chuck ESC1 may adsorb (or hold) the window WD using an electrostatic force, thereby fixing the window WD. The first electrostatic chuck ESC1 may include an electrode layer for providing an electrostatic force and a protective layer for protecting the electrode layer from pressure applied during a lamination process.

[0056] A driving device (not shown) for moving the upper chamber UC may be provided in the upper chamber UC. For example, the upper chamber UC may perform an up / down operation (or run, operation) on the lower chamber BC in the upper region of the lower chamber BC. The upper chamber UC may perform a down operation toward the fixed position lower chamber BC to be combined with the lower chamber BC. Since the upper chamber UC and the lower chamber BC may be combined together to form an internal space, a lamination process of the window WD and the display panels DP1 and DP2 may be performed. In the lamination process, the internal space of the combined upper chamber UC and the lower chamber BC may be maintained in a vacuum state. When the lamination process is completed, the upper chamber UC may perform an up operation to be separated from the lower chamber BC.

[0057] The lower chamber BC is used to accommodate at least one display panel DP (see Figure 2 ) components. Figure 7 , it is shown that the lower chamber BC accommodates two display panels DP1 and DP2. A plurality of second base plates BP2 and a plurality of second electrostatic chucks ECS2 may be disposed in the lower chamber BC. The second base plate BP2 may be a component supporting a corresponding second electrostatic chuck ESC2. The second base plate BP2 may be connected to a corresponding shaft body SF. A plurality of second electrostatic chucks ESC2 may be disposed on the plurality of second base plates BP2 to fix the display panels DP1 and DP2, respectively. The plurality of second electrostatic chucks ESC2 may use electrostatic force to adsorb the display panels DP1 and DP2, respectively, to fix the display panels DP1 and DP2. The second electrostatic chuck ESC2 may include an electrode layer for providing an electrostatic force and a protective layer for protecting the electrode layer from pressure applied during the lamination process.

[0058] The shaft SF may be a component that moves the second base plate BP2 and the second electrostatic chuck ESC2 corresponding to the alignment operation of the alignment unit AU. To this end, the shaft SF may penetrate the lower chamber BC and may be disposed between the second base plate BP2 and the alignment unit AU. For example, the shaft SF may be disposed between the second base plate BP2 and the first alignment unit AU1. In addition, the shaft SF may be disposed between the second base plate BP2 and the second alignment unit AU2.

[0059] The bellows BL may be a component that maintains the inner space of the upper chamber UC and the lower chamber BC combined together in the lamination process in a vacuum state. The bellows BL may be disposed between the lower chamber BC and the alignment unit AU to surround a portion of the shaft body SF. For example, the bellows BL may surround the shaft body SF exposed to the outside between the lower chamber BC and the alignment unit AU.

[0060] The alignment unit AU may be a component that aligns the window WD with the display panels DP1 and DP2. For example, the alignment unit AU may be a component that adjusts the adhesion position of the window WD with the display panels DP1 and DP2. The alignment unit AU may include an alignment stage (not shown), and the alignment stage may be an XYθ displacement stage that moves on an X-axis (not shown), a Y-axis (not shown), and a θ-axis (not shown), thereby performing an alignment operation of the display panels DP1 and DP2 with the window WD.

[0061] The alignment unit AU may individually align the display panels DP1 and DP2. For example, the first alignment unit AU1 may perform an alignment operation of the first display panel DP1 with the window WD. The second alignment unit AU2 may perform an alignment operation of the second display panel DP2 with the window WD.

[0062] The single-axis robot SAR may be a component that makes the center of the alignment unit AU correspond to the center of each of the display panels DP1 and DP2. In order to more accurately align the window WD with the display panels DP1 and DP2, it is necessary to make the center of each of the display panels DP1 and DP2 correspond to the center of the alignment unit AU. The single-axis robot SAR may move the alignment unit AU corresponding to each of the centers C_DP1 and C_DP2 of the display panels DP1 and DP2 so that the center of the alignment unit AU corresponds to the center of each of the display panels DP1 and DP2. For example, the first single-axis robot SAR1 may move the first alignment unit AU1 so that the center C_DP1 of the first display panel DP1 and the center C_AU1 of the first alignment unit AU1 correspond to each other. The second single-axis robot SAR2 may move the second alignment unit AU2 so that the center C_DP2 of the second display panel DP2 and the center C_AU2 of the second alignment unit AU2 correspond to each other.

[0063] The single-axis robot SAR may operate corresponding to the pitch of the display panel DP. The pitch of the display panel DP may refer to the distance between the center C_WD of the window WD and the center of the display panel DP. For example, the pitch P1 of the first display panel DP1 may be the distance between the center C_DP1 of the first display panel DP1 and the center C_WD of the window WD. The pitch P2 of the second display panel DP2 may be the distance between the center C_DP2 of the second display panel DP2 and the center C_WD of the window WD.

[0064] The shape or adhesion position of the display panel DP adhered to the window WD may be changed (eg, depending on the product). Figure 7 and Figure 8, the display panel DP adhered to the window WD may be changed from the first display panel DP1 and the second display panel DP2 to the third display panel DP3 and the fourth display panel DP4, and the shapes or adhesion positions of the third display panel DP3 and the fourth display panel DP4 are different from those of the first display panel DP1 and the second display panel DP2. In the case where the shape or adhesion position of the display panel DP is changed, the pitch of the display panel DP may be changed. For example, when the adhesion position of the third display panel DP3 is changed to the right, the pitch P3 of the third display panel DP3 may become smaller than the pitch P1 of the first display panel DP1. In addition, when the adhesion position of the fourth display panel DP4 is changed to the left, the pitch P4 of the fourth display panel DP4 may become smaller than the pitch P2 of the second display panel DP2.

[0065] In the case where the spacing of the display panels DP is changed, the center of the display panel DP and the center of the alignment unit AU do not correspond to each other. Therefore, in order to realign the center of the display panel DP and the center of the alignment unit AU, the alignment unit AU can be moved by operating the uniaxial robot SAR. For example, the first alignment unit AU1 can be moved to the right by operating the first uniaxial robot SAR1 so that the center C_DP3 of the third display panel DP3 corresponds to the center C_AU1 of the first alignment unit AU1. The second alignment unit AU2 can be moved to the left by operating the second uniaxial robot SAR2 so that the center C_DP4 of the fourth display panel DP4 corresponds to the center C_AU2 of the second alignment unit AU2.

[0066] In the above process, the bellows BL may be horizontally moved together with the alignment unit AU. However, since the position of the lower chamber BC connected to the bellows BL may be fixed, the horizontal movement of the bellows BL may be limited. In the case where the variation in the pitch of the display panel DP is large, the bellows BL may be damaged during the horizontal movement. In the case where the bellows BL is damaged, the inner spaces of the upper chamber UC and the lower chamber BC, which may be combined together in the lamination process, may be in a non-vacuum state, and therefore, the adhesion performance of the window WD and the display panel DP may be deteriorated.

[0067] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a laminating device LD' according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig.10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a subchamber SC according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0068] refer to Fig. 9 The laminating device LD' according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include an upper chamber UC, a lower chamber BC, a substrate plate BP, an electrostatic chuck ESC, at least one shaft SF, at least one bellows BL, at least one subchamber SC, an alignment unit AU, and a single-axis robot SAR. Figure 7and Figure 8 Unlike the laminating device LD shown in the figure, the laminating device LD' according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a subchamber SC. The subchamber SC may include a first subchamber SC1 and a second subchamber SC2. In order to distinguish the upper chamber UC and the lower chamber BC from the subchamber SC, the upper chamber UC and the lower chamber BC may be referred to as a main chamber MC. Figure 7 and Figure 8 The parts shown in the figure are different parts.

[0069] At least one shaft SF may be connected to each second base plate BP2. Fig. 9 , two shaft bodies SF are shown connected to each second base plate BP2. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 1 , one shaft body SF may be connected to each second base plate BP2 .

[0070] The lower chamber BC may include at least one opening hole OH formed so that at least one shaft body SF penetrates the lower chamber BC. The opening hole OH may be formed by adhering to the window WD (see Figure 7 ) of several display panels DP (see Figure 2 ) is formed. For example, in the case where two display panels DP are attached to the window WD, the lower chamber BC may include two opening holes OH1 and OH2. The shaft body SF is disposed in the opening hole OH so that a moving space of the shaft body SF can be ensured.

[0071] At least one subchamber SC may be provided in the laminating device LD'. The subchamber SC may be provided according to the number of display panels DP attached to the window WD. In an embodiment, the number of display panels DP may be in the range of 1 to 3. For example, in the case where two display panels DP are attached to the window WD, two subchambers SC1 and SC2 may be provided in the laminating device LD'.

[0072] refer to Fig. 9 and Fig.10 , the sub-chamber SC may be disposed between the lower chamber BC and the alignment unit AU. The sub-chamber SC may include a sub-plate SP, a cylinder SD, a linear motion guide (or LM guide) LG, and a floating joint FJ.

[0073] The sub-plate SP may include a fixing hole FH for fixing the shaft body SF. The sub-plate SP may prevent the shaft body SF from moving in the process of making the center of the display panel DP and the center of the alignment unit AU correspond to each other. The number of the fixing holes FH may be equal to the number of the fixing shaft bodies SF. Fig. 9 and Fig.10 , there is shown a sub-plate SP in which two fixing holes FH for fixing two shaft bodies SF are formed.

[0074] The cylinder SD may be a component that moves the subchamber SC upward / downward. The cylinder SD may move the subchamber SC upward or downward in a process of making the center of the display panel DP and the center of the align unit AU correspond to each other.

[0075] The LM guide LG may be a component that guides the up / down movement of the subchamber SC. The LM guide LG may be disposed at one side of the subchamber SC so that the up and down movement of the subchamber SC is smoothly performed. The LM guide LG may include a guide rail for movement and an LM block that slides on the guide rail, etc.

[0076] The floating joint FJ may be a component in which the parallelism between the axial center of the cylinder SD and the up-and-down movement of the LM guide LG is compensated. The floating joint FJ may absorb or prevent eccentricity and deflection due to center displacement between the cylinder SD and the LM guide LG, and absorb or prevent lack of accuracy of parallelism between the cylinder SD and the LM guide LG.

[0077] A portion of the shaft body SF may be disposed in the subchamber SC through the subplate SP. A bellows BL surrounding a portion of the shaft body SF may be disposed in the subchamber SC. The bellows BL may surround the shaft body SF disposed inside the subchamber SC and may be in contact with (or connected to) the subplate SP. As described above, due to Figure 7 and Figure 8 The bellows BL shown in the figure may be connected to the lower chamber BC whose position is fixed, so the horizontal movement of the bellows BL may be restricted, and the bellows BL may be damaged during the horizontal movement. On the other hand, since the bellows BL according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may be set in the sub-chamber SC whose position is not fixed, the horizontal movement of the bellows BL may not be restricted. Therefore, the force applied to the bellows BW during the horizontal movement can be minimized, and the risk that the bellows BL may be damaged can be eliminated or reduced.

[0078] Figures 11 to 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a driving method of the lamination device LD′ according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0079] Before the description, it is assumed that the center of the alignment unit AU of the lamination device LD' is in a state where the center of the alignment unit AU corresponds to the display panel DP used in the previous lamination process (see Figure 2). For example, the center C_AU1 of the first alignment unit AU1 is in a state where the center C_AU1 of the first alignment unit AU1 corresponds to the center C_DP1 of the first display panel DP1 used in the previous lamination process and corresponds to the pitch P1 of the first display panel DP1. The center C_AU2 of the second alignment unit AU2 is in a state where the center C_AU2 of the second alignment unit AU2 corresponds to the center C_DP2 of the second display panel DP2 used in the previous lamination process and corresponds to the pitch P2 of the second display panel DP2.

[0080] Hereinafter, a driving method of the lamination device LD' will be described, which driving method is used to make the center C_AU1 of the first alignment unit AU1 and the center C_AU2 of the second alignment unit AU2 correspond to the center C_DP3 of the third display panel DP3 to be used in the next lamination process and the center C_DP4 of the fourth display panel DP4 to be used in the next lamination process, respectively, and correspond to the pitch P3 of the third display panel DP3 and the pitch P4 of the fourth display panel DP4, respectively.

[0081] refer to Fig.11 , a step of lowering at least one subchamber SC may be performed. For example, the first subchamber SC1 and the second subchamber SC2 may be lowered. The subchamber SC may be moved downward by the operation of the cylinder SD. When the subchamber SC is lowered, the subchamber SC may be spaced apart from the lower chamber BC.

[0082] refer to Fig.12 , the alignment unit AU may be moved so that the center of at least one alignment unit AU is aligned with the display panel DP (see Figure 2 ) centers correspond to each other. The alignment unit AU may be moved horizontally by the uniaxial robot SAR. For example, the first alignment unit AU1 may be moved to the right by the first uniaxial robot SAR1, and therefore, the center C_AU1 of the first alignment unit AU1 and the center C_DP3 of the third display panel DP3 may correspond to each other. The second alignment unit AU2 may be moved to the left by the second uniaxial robot SAR2, and therefore, the center C_AU2 of the second alignment unit AU2 and the center C_DP4 of the fourth display panel DP4 may correspond to each other. The subchambers SC1 and SC2 may be moved horizontally together with the corresponding alignment units AU1 and AU2, respectively. For example, in the process of making the center of the alignment unit AU and the center of the display panel DP correspond to each other, the position of the subchamber SC may not be fixed and may be moved. Therefore, the horizontal movement of the bellows BL disposed in the subchamber SC may become smooth, and the horizontal force applied to the bellows BL may be minimized. Therefore, the bellows BL may be prevented from being deformed or damaged.

[0083] refer to Fig.13, a step of lifting at least one subchamber SC can be performed. For example, the first subchamber SC1 and the second subchamber SC2 can be lifted. The subchamber SC can be moved upward by the operation of the cylinder SD. When the subchamber SC is lifted, the subchamber SC can be in contact with (or connected to) the lower chamber BC. Therefore, the upper chamber UC and the lower chamber BC can be combined together, and the internal space to be formed can be maintained in a vacuum state. Therefore, the display panels DP3 and DP4 whose shapes or adhesion positions can be changed can be more accurately adhered to the window WD.

[0084] According to the present disclosure, the center of the alignment unit of the laminating apparatus may easily correspond to the center of various types of display panels.

[0085] In making the center of the alignment unit and the center of the display panel correspond to each other, damage of the bellows may be prevented, thereby maintaining a vacuum state of the laminated state.

[0086] The above description is an example of the technical features of the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art in the relevant field of the present disclosure will be able to make various modifications and changes.Therefore, the above disclosed embodiments can be implemented separately or in combination with each other.

[0087] The embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present disclosure, but are intended to describe the technical spirit of the present disclosure, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present disclosure should be interpreted by the attached claims, and it should be interpreted that all technical spirits within the equivalent scope are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A laminating device, wherein: The laminating device comprises: The upper chamber accommodates the windows; a lower chamber accommodating at least one display panel; At least one shaft body, penetrating the lower chamber; at least one alignment member to align the at least one display panel with the window; and at least one subchamber disposed between the lower chamber and the at least one alignment feature, Therein, at least one bellows surrounding a portion of the at least one shaft body is arranged in the at least one subchamber.

2. The laminating device according to claim 1, wherein: A first substrate plate and a first electrostatic chuck are disposed in the upper chamber, and The first electrostatic chuck is disposed on the first base plate and fixes the window.

3. The laminating device according to claim 1, wherein: At least one second substrate plate and at least one second electrostatic chuck are disposed in the lower chamber, The at least one second base plate is connected to the at least one shaft, and The at least one second electrostatic chuck is disposed on the at least one second base plate and fixes the at least one display panel.

4. The laminating device according to claim 1, wherein: The lower chamber includes at least one opening hole corresponding to the at least one display panel, and The at least one shaft body is disposed in the at least one opening hole.

5. The laminating device according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one subchamber comprises: The sub-plate comprises a fixing hole for fixing the at least one shaft body; a cylinder to move the at least one subchamber upward / downward; a linear motion guide to guide the up / down motion of the at least one subchamber; and A floating joint compensates for parallelism between the axial center of the cylinder and the up / down movement of the linear motion guide.

6. The laminating device according to claim 1, wherein: The upper chamber and the lower chamber are combined together to form an inner space, and The at least one bellows maintains the inner space in a vacuum state.

7. The laminating device according to claim 5, wherein: The at least one bellows is in contact with the daughterboard.

8. The laminating device according to claim 1, wherein: The laminating device also includes: At least one single-axis robot is disposed on the bottom of the at least one alignment component, and the at least one single-axis robot moves the at least one alignment component so that the center of the at least one alignment component and the center of the at least one display panel correspond to each other.

9. The laminating device according to claim 8, wherein: The at least one subchamber is moved downwardly before the at least one single-axis robot moves the at least one alignment component.

10. The laminating device according to claim 8, wherein: The at least one subchamber is moved upward after the at least one single-axis robot moves the at least one alignment component.

11. The laminating device according to claim 1, wherein: The number of the at least one display panel is in the range of 1 to 3.

12. A method for driving a laminating device, wherein: The method comprises: lowering at least one subchamber disposed between a lower chamber accommodating at least one display panel and at least one alignment member; by moving the at least one alignment member, causing a center of the at least one alignment member and a center of the at least one display panel to correspond to each other; and lifting the at least one subchamber, Therein, at least one bellows surrounding a portion of at least one shaft body is arranged in the at least one subchamber.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The at least one subchamber comprises: The sub-plate comprises a fixing hole for fixing the at least one shaft body; A cylinder to move the at least one subchamber upward / downward; a linear motion guide to guide the up / down motion of the at least one subchamber; and A floating joint compensates for parallelism between the axial center of the cylinder and the up / down movement of the linear motion guide.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: The at least one bellows is in contact with the daughterboard.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The method further comprises: Combining the upper chamber accommodating the window with the lower chamber; maintaining an inner space formed by joining the upper chamber and the lower chamber together in a vacuum state; and The window and the at least one display panel are adhered to each other.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The number of the at least one display panel is in the range of 1 to 3.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein: A first substrate plate and a first electrostatic chuck are disposed in the upper chamber, and The first electrostatic chuck is disposed on the first base plate and fixes the window.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein: At least one second substrate plate and at least one second electrostatic chuck are disposed in the lower chamber, The at least one second base plate is connected to the at least one shaft, and The at least one second electrostatic chuck is disposed on the at least one second base plate and fixes the at least one display panel.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein: The method further comprises: The at least one subchamber is moved downwardly prior to moving the at least one alignment component by the at least one single-axis robot.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein: The method further comprises: After the at least one alignment component is moved by the at least one single-axis robot, the at least one subchamber is moved upward.

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